Waste and overflow fitting



' y 1931- T. J. KAUFMAN WASTE AND OVERFLQW FITTING May 26, 1931. T. J. KAUFMAN WASTE AND OVERFLOW FITTING Filed Feb. 24. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED TATES 'IOBIAS J. KAUFMAN, or cnioneo, rnn nors WASTE AND OVERFLOW FITTING Application filed February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,942.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sanitary fittings and more particularly to a novel form of waste and overflow fitting for bath tubs and like fixtures.

5 Obviously the fitting herein referred to is applicable to many types of sanitary fixtures, but for the purpose of this application the same will be described in combination with a bath tub.

In practice, the present form of fitting is generally known as the pop-up type, which type is supplanting the old style standing wastes for obvious reasons.

In the first-place these old style fittings have large waste and overflow chambers or pipes which are in constant water communication with the contents of the tub during the bathing process, a very unsanitary arrangement. Furthermore they are not repairable, removable or insertable, through the front wall of the tub but require the installa tion of a panel or pipe chamber in the bath room wall at the head of the tub.

Various devices have been devised and used, either partially or entirely eliminating these difficulties, but in only a few instances, so far as applicant is aware, do these improved devices shutoff the water where it leaves the tub and at the same time have all working parts removable through the waste and overflow openings after the installation has been made.

The general arrangement of applicants device is not broadly new as will be apparent from the foregoing discussion, but the object of the present invention is to produce an improved device of the type indicated embodying certain details of construction whereby the desired results can be accomplished in a more simple and expeditious manner.

Briefly stated, the instant invention comprises in combination with a bath tub or similar fixture, connected and relatively large overflow and waste chambers or pipes in which the drain or waste plug andoperating mechanism is removably mounted and enclosed. It is to be noted that although the operating mechanism is removable through the waste and overflow openings, the drain or waste plug is adapted to shut off the water where it leaves the tub and not at the point where the tub waste pipe joins the overflow pipe and main waste pipe. This is important for the reason that the contents of the '55 tub during the bathing process are not in communication with the large waste and overflow chambers or pipes as isthecase-with most of the fittings of this removable type.

To accomplish this result applicant has de- '69 vised a novel form of drain plug in combination with a control chain and a novelform of chain adjusting device cooperating with an operating handle mounted in an improved manner in the strainer of the overflow pipe, 5

said adjusting device being positioned in the upper end of the overflow pipe. adjacent said strainer, all of which improveddetails will be hereinafter more fully described.

The preferred embodiment of the inven-' tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 is a view partly in section an partly in elevation, clearly illustrating the complete assembly;

Fig. 2'is a view looking through the strainer into the upper end of the overflow pipe;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the strainer, operating handle and chain removed;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the securing. and adjusting device for the'upper end of the operating chain;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view ofthe bell crank lever attached to the drain plug as shown in .elevation in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings in detail the tub or similar fixture 10 is provided with an outlet opening 11 and an overflow opening 12 as in well known conventional constructions of fixtures of this type. The waste opening 11 has positionedtherein a threaded flanged sleeve 13 provided with a valve seat to receive a waste or a drain plug 14. The flanged sleeve 13 is secured to the fixture by a threaded elbow 15, and interposed between 17 of the valve 14 is a bell-crank lever 18. At the pivotal connection between the lower portion 17 of the drain plug 14 and the bellcrank lever 18 is a spring or the like 19, said spring comprising merely a spring wire or the like coiled about the pivot pin and having one end extended to engage the drain plug and its other end to engage a portion of the bell-crank lever remote from the pivot, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, the purpose of which spring will be apparent upon a further reading of thedescription.

This bell-crank lever is mounted so that one end thereof 20 is adapted to be supported within a recess 21 formed in the elbow 15. This end being substantially anchored, the spring 19 will assist in returning the drain plug 14 to its closed position. The other end 22 of the bell-crank lever 18 is connected to an operating chain 23, which chain extends through the tub waste pipe 24 connected to the elbow 15, a T 25 connected to the tub waste pipe 24 by a water tight joint and an overflow pipe 26 which is also connected by a water tight joint to the T 25, the lower end of the T 25 being secured to the main waste pipe 27. i r

The upper end of the chain 23 passes through openings 28 and 29 formed in the bottom and top respectively of a yoke like member or anchor 30 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4),

the desired link of said chain being then looped over an upstanding pin or post 31 carried by the yoke or anchor 30. This construction provides for the initial adjusting of the length of the chain, said'chain being provided at its free end with a ring or eye 32 in order to prevent said chain from slipping down through the guide holes in the chain anchor as the result of any careless ness in assembling or making adjustments after installation. v

The yoke or anchor 30is supported for both transverse and vertical movement, between horizontally disposed parallel guide bars or the like 33 carried by the overflow elbow 34 (see Fig. 3). This elbow 34 is positioned in the overflow opening 12 and secured therein by screws or the like 35 cooperating with a clamp ring 36 through which said screws pass, the inner ends of said screws being threaded into oppositely disposed projections or inwardly projecting bosses 37 car ried by the waste elbow. In order to insure screws 40 for securing the strainer plate 41 which plate forms a cover for the waste and also a bearing for an operating handle 42. This strainer plate 41 is provided witha concentric opening forming a stepped bearing to receive the stepped portion 43 of the operating handle 42, said handle being secured in this bearing by a cotter pin or similar removable securing means 44. This construction provides a very simple and efiicient means of rotatably mounting the operating handle 42, thus eliminatingclamping nuts and the like generally used in constructions of this type. The inwardly projecting end ofthe operating handle 42 is in the form of a crank 45, the end of said crank being insertable through the head of a screw eye 46 carried by the yoke or anchor 30, said screw eye being threaded into said anchor and thereby providing an additional adjustment, or what might be termed the final adjustment for the operating chain 23.

The crank 45 is provided with an inwardly extending portion 47 adapted to engage a stop lug 48 projecting inwardly from one side of the overflow elbow 34, this stop lug 48 being made sufficiently long so that the end portion 47 of the crank 45 will engage the same in its extreme upper and lower. positions. In other words, the turning of the handle 42 during the operation of the device, will be restricted within certain limits, to wit its full open and full closed positions, which operation requires merely a half revolution of the operating crank, or a rotation of 180 degrees.

In assembling this fitting in a tub, the hous ing members such as the overflow elbow, waste and overflow pipes, T and etc., are first applied and set up to provide water tight connections between the various parts. The lower end of the chain 23 is then disconnected from the bell-crank and dropped down through the overflow elbow 34 between thev two guide bars 33, the chain anchor being previously assembled on the chain follows the chain through the guide bars 33 and is held therebetween. The lower end of the chain is then fished out through the waste outlet and reattached to the bell-crank arm 22 by a cotter pin or similar removable pivot member. This fishing operation is Very easily accomplished with a flexible wire loop and generally understood by the average mechanic or I journeyman. The waste plug assembly, including the attached bell crank 18, is then inserted into the waste outlet casing 13 by partially rotating the bell-crank against the ten 'sion of the spring 19. As soon as the drain plug 14 is in position', thehorizontal arm 20 of the bell-crank 18, by reason of the spring 19, will snap into the recess 21 provided in the waste elbow 15. After the various parts are in their different positions as above de-,

'its nearest link is then dropped over the post 31 at the top of the anchor fitting 30. Minor plug in operation can be made by screwing or adjustments to the extent of lift of the drain unscrewing the screw eye 46 before inserting the end: of the crank 45. of the operating handle 42 through the head of said screw eye.

It will be apparent therefore that adjustmentssub-sequent to installation can be made very. easily by merely removing the strainer plate 41 together with the operating handle 42; without breaking. any of the. water tight connections or withdrawing any of the working parts.

'As hereinbefore stated, although the invention has been described asv applied to a bath tub, it will be obvious that said structure is; equally applicable to other sanitary fixtures provided with waste. and overflow outlets.

VVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a. sanitary fixture, of'a waste opening, a waste pipe or chamber communicating with said opening, a plug for closing said opening, a lever pivotally supported by said plug, means for anchoring one end of said lever and means secured to the other end of the lever for operating the plug, means formed in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever and a chain secured to the other end of the lever for operating said plug.

4. The combination witha sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping,of a plugfor said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever sup-ported by said plug, av recess formedun the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever and a chain secured, to the other end of the lever for operating said plug.

5 The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever pivotallysupported by said plug, means formed in the, waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever, a chain secured to the other end of the lever for lifting said plug and a spring to assist in returning said plug to its closed position.

6. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever pivotally supported by said plug, means formed in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever, a chain secured tothe other end ofthe lever for lifrting said plugv and a, spring disposed between the. plugand lever to. assist in returning sai plug to its closed position.

7'. The combinationwith asanitary fixture provided with. overflow and waste outletsand associated pip-ing, 'of' a plug for said Waste outlet, a flexible member positioned in the aforesaid piping for operating said ,pl'ug, means, supportedin the overflow pipe for both vertical and transverse movements, for securing the upper end portion of said flexible member and an operating means connected to the securing means, said securing meansbeing supported independently of the operating means.

8. The combination with a sanitary. fixture provided with overflow andwas'te outlets and associated; piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a flexible member positioned in the aforesaid piping for operating said plug, means, supported in the overflow pipe for both vertical and transverse. movements, for securing the upper end portion of said flexible member, an operating means connected to the securing means, said securing means being supported independently ofthe operating means and means for adjustably connecting the flexible means to. its securing means.

9. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflowand waste outlets and associated piping, of ap-lug for said waste outlet, a chain positioned in the aforesaid piping. for operating said plug, a securing means for the upperend portion ofsaid chain supported in the. overflowpiping for both vertical and transverse movements, a means carried: by said securing; meansadapted to. have interengaged: therewith the desired link 1 of said chain for adjustably attaching-- the chain thereto, and. an operating means connected to said securing means.

' 10;; The combination'with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, ofaplug for said waste outlet, a chain positioned in the aforesaid piping for operating said'plug, means, supported in the overflow pipe for-both, vertical and transverse. movements, for securing the I upper end portion ofsaidchain, a means carried bysaid securing means adapted to have interengaged therewith any desired link of said chain for initially adjusting the length of the chain, a threaded opening iormed in said securing means, a screw eye threaded into said opening and an opera-ting crank pivotally connected to thescrew-eye, said screw'eye pro- *VIlCllIlgfOI. the final adjustment of the chain.

11. The combination with a, sanitary fixture provided: with; overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, ot a plugfor said waste outlet, a chain positionedv in the aforesaid piping for operating-said plug, means supported inztheorerflowpipe-ton bothmertical and transverse movements, for securing the upper end portion of said chain, a means carried by said securing means adapted to have interengaged therewith any desired link of said chain for initially adjusting the length of the chain, a threaded opening formed in said securing means, a screw eye threaded into said opening, a crank provided with an operating handle pivotally connected to the screw eye, a combined cover plate and strainer for the overflow outlet, a stepped bearing formed in the cover plate, said operating crank being provided with acomplementary stepped portion cooperating therewith, and means for rotatably securing the operating crank in said cover plate.

12. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever supported by said plug, means formed in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever, a flexible member secured to the other end of the lever, means, supported in the overflow piping for both vertical and transverse movements, for securing the upper. end portion of said flexible member and an operating means connected to said securing means, said means for securing the upper end portion of the flexible member being supported independently of the operating means. 1

13. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever pivotally 'sup ported by said'plugga recess formed'in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever, a chain secured to the other end of the lever, means, supported in the overflow piping for both vertical and transverse movements, for adjustably securing the other end of said chain and an operating crank pivotally connected to said chain securing means.

14. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever pivotally supported by said plug, a recess formed in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever,

a chain secured to the other end of the lever, means, supported in the overflow pipingforboth vertical and transverse movements, for securing the other end of said chain,a projection carried by said securing meansadapted to have looped thereover the desired link of said chain for adjustably attaching the chain thereto and an operating means connected to said securing means.

15'. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for: said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever pivotally supported by said plug, a recessformed in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever, a chain secured to the other end of the lever,

means, supported in-the overflow piping for -bothvertical and transverse movements, for securing the other end of said chain, apro- -jection carried by said securing means adapted to have looped thereover the desired link of said chain for adjustably attaching the chain'thereto, a threaded opening formed in said securing means, a link threaded into said opening and an operating crank pivotally connected to said link.

16. The combination with a sanitary fixture provided with overflow and waste outlets and associated piping, of a plug for said waste outlet, a bell-crank lever pivotally supported by said plug, a recess formed in the waste pipe for mounting one end of said lever, a chain secured to'theother end of the lever, chain securing means supported between horizontally disposed parallel bars in the overflow piping, to permit both vertical and transverse movements of the securing means, a projection carried by said securing means adapted to have looped thereover the desired link of said chain for initially adjusting the chain, a threaded opening formed in said securing means, a screw eye threaded into said opening to providethe final adjustment of the chain, a crank provided with an operating handle pivotally connected to the screw 'eye,-a combined cover plate and strainer for the overflow outlet, means for securing the strainer plate, independently of the waste pipe connection with the fixture, a stepped bearing formed in the cover plate, said operating crank being provided with a complementary stepped portion cooperating therewith and means for rotatably securing the operating crank in said cover plate.

17. A sanitary fitting adapted to be inserted and supported in the waste and overflow chamber of a sanitary fixture, including waste and overflow elbows, comprising a drain plug, a bell crank lever pivotally supported by said plug, said lever constructed and arranged to have one end thereof pivotally anchoredin said waste elbow, a flexible operating means securedto the other end of the lever, a securing device constructed and arranged to be supported in the overflow elbow and adjustably connected to the other end of. the flexible means, an adjustable member carried by the securing means and an operating member connected to said adjustable member. f 1 V In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

TOBIAS J. KAUFMAN. 

